Smooth Galaxy held

THE hosts had to come from behind to claim a point in a pulsating mid-table encounter. It could have gone either way as both teams pressed for a winner.

Galaxy had the better of the opening exchanges as Newbiggin Hall struggled to pose a genuine threat to Hope’s goal. The majority of attacks were kept out by Small and Dunn in the centre, with Lawson, McCormack, and Farrier cleaning up on the wings.

At the other end, Charlton, Davison, and Bickerton all had chances, while Whittle did well to get a shot in when reduced to a tight angle by the opposition goalkeeper.

Eventually, the goal came as Charlton controlled a high ball to slot past the home goalkeeper who could only watch on as it bounced into the net.

From then on, it was a more even encounter as the hosts pressed for an equaliser.

Near half-time, they got it as a throw-in found its way towards the centre of the pitch where a Newbiggin Hall striker was on hand to fire past Hope from 18 yards.

Barring a few near-misses, it was a tense, even encounter played mostly in the centre of the pitch.

Eventually, the game finished a tense 1-1 draw, which leaves Galaxy fifth in the table after last week’s win over North Shields took them above today’s hosts.

With a two-week break due to the Tyne-Wear derby, Galaxy will come back strongly, with games against Prudhoe YC Yellows and Kingston Park Pumas remaining, and they will hope to finish strongly and push for a good league position at the end of the season.